For all the innovations in the NHL All-Star Game this
season, they clearly haven't gone far enough. Who knew all you needed to
increase the entertainment factor for the shot accuracy competition was Russian
nesting dolls filled with Russian dressing? Thanks, ESPN and Washington
Capitals star Alex Ovechkin(notes)!

This is an ESPN SportsCenter viral clip making the rounds
today, and it's worth paying attention to in the big picture.

The most compelling argument for the NHL to return to ESPN
is that the network is so adept at star[bleeping], and that the NHL has more
marketable stars now (Ovechkin, Crosby, Kane, Toews, Malkin, Stamkos) than it
had when ESPN had the television rights. If the NHL went back, this sort of
thing would become commonplace insofar as marketing the game.

VERSUS gives the NHL enormous airtime, great game coverage
and makes it the centerpiece of its schedule during the playoffs. But is that
enough to make up for the lack of ESPN-esque spotlights on its stars? They're the steak without the sizzl.

Meanwhile, we'd like to see ESPN continue this series. Next: Shane O'Brien(notes) shooting pucks at condoms filled with Jack and Coke. Do it.